Explosive powder



Patented Jan. 14, 1%36 WILLIAM F. VAN VACTOB, OF PORTLAND, OREGON NoDrawing.

EXPLOSIVE POWDER Application filed August 30, 1928. Serial No. 303,127.

- powder that can be manufactured with reasonable safety and one inwhich the granulation of the product a ter mixing and drying is readilyand eifectively secured.

The ingredients employed in making my improved explosive comprisespotassium chlorate, granulated sugar, Irish moss jelly, water, and crudefuel oil. The Irish moss jelly is prepared by covering the dry moss withwarm water and allowing it to steep for twelve hours, and the percentageof the Irish moss jelly in the mixture is always one-half of one percent by weight. The

percentage of ture is one-half of one per cent.

the crude fuel oil in the mix- The percentage of water in the mixture istwo per cent. The remaining 97% of the composition is made up ofpotassium chlorate and granulated sugar, and the potassium chlorate maybe varied from forty to sixty per cent depending on the nature of thepowder that is desired, and the remainder of the composition is sugar.By varying the proportions of the potassium chlorate and sugar, which ispreferably of the granulated type, explosive powders of varyingstrengths in accordance with the purpose for which the powder is to beused are produced, it being understood that the higher the percentage ofthe potassium chlorate the higher the explosive force of the powder, themixtures having the lower percentages of pota sium chlorate being of theprogressive burning and propelling type of explosives.

In making the explosive the water is added to the sugar and boiledwithout stirring to a temperature of 240 degrees Fahrenheit, or to sucha time that the boiled sugar becomes brittle and cracks when droppedinto cold water. The Irish moss jelly is then stirred into the boilingsugar and the product removed from the fire. The potassium chlorate isthen stirred into the mixture and thoroughly agitated while adding thefuel oil which must be added before the mixture is too dry to stir.

The product is then spread out and allowed to dry for at leasttwenty-four hours and after it has thoroughly dried is ready to pack foruse.

The Irish moss jelly is included in, the mixture because after theproduct has dried it causes a ready granulation of the dried product andalso provides a binder for the ingredients.

I have also found that by varying the degrees of heat used in boilingthe sugar between 235 degrees and 27 5 degrees Fahrenheit, the textureof the finished product is varied, the higher heated products beingcapable of more finely division in granulation.

The powder is particularly adapted for use in blasting either rock orstumps and for mining, being capable of use in underground work withoutcausing ill eifects from fumes, such for instance as headaches.

Should it be desired to eliminate danger of ignition from friction crudefuel oil may be mixed with the powder in the proportions of one part ofthe oil to fifty parts of the powder. This will make the powdersemiplastic and will further make the explosive moisture resistant.

What is claimed is 1. In an explosive mixture, including a chlorate andsugar, and a binder and granulating element consisting of Irish mossjelly.

2. An explosive mixture, consisting of a chlorate, sugar, fuel oil,Irish moss elly and water.

3. An explosive mixture, consisting of chlorate of potash from forty tosixty per cent by Weight, sufiicient sugar to make with said chlorate atotal of ninety-seven per cent, Irish moss jelly one-half of one perrent, fuel oil one-half of one per cent, and water two per cent.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM F. VAN VACTOR.

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